IJP Volume 1 Issue 1 Pages 13-17
IJP Volume 1 Issue 1 Pages 13-17
IJP Volume 1 Issue 1 Pages 13-17
Abstract
Introduction:
Vitamin deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are common nutritional problems, at least in children
under 5. These materials shortage, especially in the first two years of life, impair physical and brain
growth, reduces the child's learning ability, reduces body resistance against infections, behavioral
changes, apathy and finally social and economic adverse consequences would be followed. This study
aimed to determine the supplements used in children under two years and its Association with Growth
rate in Mashhad City.
Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 300 children 6 to 24 months were
recruited in health centers in Mashhad, Data was collected from mother and and children’ records and
valid and reliable questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was analyzed by statistical tests and
SPSS 11.5 and P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Results showed that 13.7 percent of families were with low income, 82.7 percent middle
income and 3.7 percent well income. In growth chart, 86.7 percent of children showed appropriate
growth, 10.3 percent had delayed growth and 3 percent had horizontal growth curve .In 80.7 percent
of families, maternal multivitamin and iron drops have been used to their children regularly, 1.7
percent did not believe in these supplements and 17.7 percent of mothers sometimes used these
supplements for their children. Results also showed statistical correlation significant variables of
parental education, family income, mothers referred to health centers for monitoring the growth and
get face to face training of personnel center drops of multivitamin with iron and growth status of
children variable is available, so children who regularly have used supplements and income level and
above are literate parents have grown more favorable than the other kids (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Regarding the importance of iron and multivitamin use in children less than two years,
necessary training must be provided to mothers in this field by health centers personnel. Meanwhile, it
is recommended that the authorities must distribute periodical and enough drops to health centers.
Keywords: Children, Iron, Multivitamin, Growth rate, Supplements.
*
Corresponding Author:
Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad, University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
E-mail:KianiMD@yahoo.com
Received date: Oct 15, 2013 , Accepted date: Nov 2, 2013
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Iron and Multivitamin Supplements in Children
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Saeidi M, et al
follows: 80.7% responded and 17.7%, 24.7 % said that they would participate in
sometimes used drops to their children these classes occasionally. Face to face in
(Figure1). terms of providing education to mothers by
health care personnel: 44.7 percent answered
yes, 15.7% no answer and 39.7 percent as
they have sometimes given to education.
Growth status of children was as follows:
Optimal growth in 86.7 percent, low growth
in 10.3 percent and 3 percent had horizontal
growth curve. 1.3 percent of children
weighted less than 2500 grams and 98.7
percent more than 2500 g. 35% of mothers
started supplemental feeding before 6 months
and 65% after 6 months.
Fig1: Distribution of use Iron ant Multivitamin There was a significant Relationship
Drops for Infants between use of supplements (iron and
multivitamin) and education level of
Mothers were asked whether they mothers,so mothers with diploma level more
participate in training courses, 34.3% of than other mothers used drops for children
mothers answered yes, 41% answered no and (iron and multivitamin) (P<0.001), (Table1).
Table1: Distribution of use Iron ant Multivitamin Drops for children by Mother’s Education.
Education Use Iron and Multivitamin Drops Total
Yes No Sometimes
29 5 12 46
Primary 12% 100% 22.6% 15.3%
34 0 15 49
Less than Diploma 14% 0 28.3% 16.3%
140 0 10 150
Diploma 57.9% 0 18.9% 50%
39 0 16 55
Academic 16.1% 0 30.2% 18.3%
242 5 53 300
Total
100% 100% 100% 100%
P<0.001
There was a significant Relationship multivitamin for infants, the status of growth
between use of suplements(iron and in children was better than the other
multivitamin) and status percentile growth in infants)(P<0.001),(Table2).
children, so mother used iron and
Table2: Distribution of use Iron ant Multivitamin Drops for children by Status Percentile Growth.
Status Percentile Use Iron and Multivitamin Drops Total
growth Yes No Sometimes
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Iron and Multivitamin Supplements in Children
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Saeidi M, et al
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